Do they exist? articulating paddle wheel

[justinDesign]

Is there such a thing as an articulationg paddle wheel? I have tried to find some pictures or videos on the internet and have not had any luck. I wish to lern how they function and what they look like so I may decide wether or not to use on in a design of mine.

Please help me

[FAST FRED]

The articulation was a set of levers that allowed the paddle (mounted on a pin) to drop into the water with less splash , set the angle as the power was used , and then had the padle lift WITHOUT lifting any water, a waste of energy.

Look at some of the Mississippi river boat sites.

FF

[rwatson]

Hmmm - Me and Google cant find any references. Any one else have better luck ?

[rwatson]

Found one -

try http://www.computer-therapy.com/sidc...s/pevensey.pdf

for the full logic and principles involved

and an illustration of a model sized version.

[RAY TOSTADO]

Here is my conclusion, based on a 14 day old real time application of a 20" dia. 6"X14" wheel with 8 spokes. This was done on a 14' efficient dinghy hull. Grooss weight (with 2 crew) at about 600#.

Too many spokes. What will seem like application power does nothing but create a turbulent vortex that will rob the next paddle of a firm water mass to push against.

I did not lack for power, just application. This I believe is an accurate conclusion as how the slower I turned the wheel the more real forward push the system developed. I will, given a return of my interest level, remove 50% of the wheels and make another test.

My full conclusion is that for a basic 14' hull the diameter of the wheel should be a minimum of 60". Such geometry provides a less turbulant footprint into the water.

As to the water push and lift power consumption I feel, by witness, it to be minimal. But if it is of concern then the next generation wheel design should be a triangular design with a single upper driver wheel and two immersed lower idler wheels. The proper distance between the idler wheels will allow for multiple paddles to be providing force at an optimum attitude simultaneously.


Ray Tostado

[rwatson]

Thats an interesting observation, but on reflection - quite expected.
The paddlewheelers of the past had much larger wheels, and paddles, so the disturbance created by extra 'machinery' dipping in the water would have been far less intrusive.
Also, you did not state the RPM you were operating when the disturbance was so noticable. I imagine the slower speeds you operated at were closer to the 'scaled up' operations of the bigger wheels.
For all that, I think paddlewheels have a good place in craft even today. At one time, it was a two man paddle wheeler that held the world record for man powered propulsion.
I would be very interested to hear and see the new designs you come up with.
Keep up the experimenting.

[Lin Olen]

Numerous types, look up Kensington Museum, London, UK

[rwatson]

Its hard to look up a museum without being there.
Do you have one or two usefull links ?

[tinhorn]

A Compendium of Paddle Wheel Knowledge, complete with Formulas and Complicated Calculations, as Recorded from the Year of Our Lord 1840 through 1918, inclusive. Also pretty pictures:

[Pericles]

The P. S. Waverly has these paddles which can be observed in operation from the engine room. There are a number of sites, see below. Contact the Trust and ask if they can help.

http://www.waverleyexcursions.co.uk/

http://www.billward.org/pages_wav/waverly.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcHISHYeEjc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSGY_W86RtQ

http://nautarch.tamu.edu/projects/denbigh/WHEEL.HTM

http://www.hsomerville.com/meccano/Paddlewheel.htm

http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/

http://psps1.mysite.wanadoo-members....ock3/index.htm

http://www.btinternet.com/~Paddlers/PSWaverley/

http://www.river-clyde.org.uk/waverley.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddle_steamer

http://www.kbships.com/DesktopDefaul...ex=9&tabid=159

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/tramways/PSPS.htm

http://www.answers.com/topic/ps-waverley

http://books.google.com/books?id=avc...3uwM#PPA477,M1

I think I shall stop now.

Pericles

[tinhorn]

Man, I left out one of the coolest ones:

[Dan Listermann]

We recently bought a cabin on a small river. The river's depth does not allow for prop driven motors. I thought a paddle boat could better handle the shallows better. It occured to me that a riding lawn mower might have the drive train needed to propel a paddle wheel. Obviously the motor is there, but much more important is the transmission. A reverse would be needed and a change of gears would be handy too.

The hull would be a jon boat. Hanging a paddle off the stern might be clumsey. Side wheels would provide more balance. Further a belt tightening system could allow single side power for tight manuerving.

Paddles made from stiff rubber might be nice to head off inevitable problems.

[robherc]

Hmm....the articulated (or feathered) paddle-wheel would seem to hold quite a lot of promise to me. The biggest advantage I see for it, however, is by not introducing as much air in the wake of each paddle, far more than simply not lifting water.

By not mixing (as much) air into the water at the beginning of each paddle's "push" it would seem to me that a more stable waterflow would be available for the next paddle to "push against," thus allowing better efficiency at higher RPMs. ...but that's just my opinion...I haven't tested it yet, but now you guys have piqued my curiosity!

[rwatson]

I still get excited by this concept at

http://www.autocanoe.com

A small craft with this setup could go so many places.

Now if we could have an adjustable articulation setup that was efficient at paddling, that could be adjusted so that it "walked" on the flats of the paddlewheel over sand and mud .....

I have a lot of thinking to do .......

[Dan Listermann]

That does look like fun!

Feathering would be great, but that is far more time and effort than I have time to work out.